Russellville native lands in top three on ITA Champions List

By Staff
Submitted to the FCT
The International Taekwondo Alliance released it's 2006 Champion List Dec. 8, and Russellville native Christine Kelly was once again ranked in the top three in the nation for her division.
The Champion List Rankings are based on accumulated points from the three ITA National Tournaments held every year.
This year the tournaments were held in Baton Rouge, Mobile, and Chattanooga. While competing in the second degree women's division (ages 15-34), Kelly placed three times nationally and five times regionally.
Her two silver medals in forms competition at nationals gave her enough points to be ranked third in the nation.
Kelly competes against women across the nation from San Bernardino, California to Nashville, Tennessee.
Kelly has placed in the top three in the nation both years she has been eligible to be ranked.
Last year she was ranked number one in forms competition and number two in sparring competition.
The ITA (International Taekwondo Alliance) practices Ho-Am Taekwondo, also known as Tiger-Rock Taekwondo.
Kelly has been training for four and a half years and currently holds a second degree level four black belt. She will test for her third degree black belt in May.
She trains and instructs under fifth degree black belt Trent Graham at Trent Graham's Taekwondo Academy in Florence. Her next national competition will be in Houston, Texas in April of 2007.